Steny Hoyer and Nancy Pelosi during President Trump’s first State of the Nation address. photo via Zimbio
Congressman Steny Hoyer, the #2 Democrat in the House of Representatives behind Nancy Pelosi, will be in New York City on Thursday to raise campaign cash for Josh Welle, the Democrat running against Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th congressional district of New Jersey, according to an invitation to the fundraiser obtained by MMM.
Hoyer entered the House in 1981, the same year as Smith.
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Posted: August 11th, 2018 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2018 Elections, Congress, Monmouth County, New Jersey | Tags: 2018 elections, Congressman Chris Smith, Josh Welle, Mercer County News, Monmouth County News, Nancy Pelosi, New Jersey, Ocean County News, Steny Hoyer | 8 Comments »
Josh Welle refers to a flash card while answering a question about solar energy
By Art Gallagher
Josh Welle, the Democrat running against Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th congressional district, held a campaign event, dubbed a town hall meeting, in Jackson on Thursday night that appeared to be designed to capture footage for television commercials, rather than to hear from the people of Jackson, as advertised.
Rather than the free wheeling give and take of town hall meetings New Jersey residents are accustomed to, like those of former Governor Chris Christie, and the ObamaCare town halls held by Congressman Frank Pallone and Rush Holt in 2010, Welle’s event featured pre-screened questions read by a moderator. The person who submitted the question was instructed to stand (for the video cameras) while Welle delivered prepared answers.
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Posted: August 4th, 2018 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2018 Elections, Chris Smith, Monmouth County, Monmouth County News, New Jersey | Tags: 2018 elections, Angela Welle, Butch Budai, CD-4, Congressman Chris Smith, District 4 Coalition for Change, Jackson Township, Joe Sullivan, Josh Welle, Mercer County News, Monmouth County News, NJ 4, Ocean County News, Robyn Gedrich, Robyn Gedrich Tinder, Tinder, Welle Bogus Town Hall, Welle Town Hall | 24 Comments »
Josh Welle, the Democrat running against Congressman Chris Smith is holding a town hall meeting in Jackson tonight at the Sons of American Vets Post at 1290 Toms River Road in Jackson.
During a gathering of the Monmouth and Ocean County Democrats last February when Welle was competing for the Democrat nomination to challenge Congressman Smith, Welle said that he wants to end discrimination and racism in the district, but that residents of Howell, Jackson, Allentown, Millstone and people who voted for Smith for 37 years, “are not there yet.”
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Posted: August 2nd, 2018 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2018 Elections, Monmouth County News, New Jersey, NJ Politics, Ocean County | Tags: 2018 elections, Congressman Chris Smith, Josh Welle, Monmouth County News, New Jersey, NJ 4, Ocean County News | 19 Comments »
Congressman Chris Smith told MMM that he is more determined than ever to serve the people of New Jersey’s 4th congressional district, following an online death threat he received last weekend. The congressman said the threat is not the first and will not be the last. “We can’t let that kind of tactic win,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: August 2nd, 2018 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Smith, Monmouth County News, Monmouth County Prosecutor, New Jersey | Tags: Congressman Chris Smith, Death threat, Dereal Finklin, Mercer County News, Monmouth County News, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, New Jersey, NJ 4, Ocean County News | 12 Comments »
Update: MMM and ShoreNewsNetwork ended their affiliation after the 2018 election.
Two Jersey Shore local news sites are joining forces in an effort to provide Monmouth and Ocean County residents informative alternatives to legacy media outlets.
Phil Stilton, publisher of ShoreNewsNetwork.com and Art Gallagher, publisher of MoreMonmouthMusings.net announced today that they have created a strategic alliance and content sharing agreement. Together, the two publishers expect to reach 300,000 Monmouth and Ocean County readers per week through their websites and social media platforms.
“Phil has built and impressive audience in Ocean County,” Gallagher said. “I’m looking to expand my reach in northern Ocean County and southwest Monmouth County. Teaming up with ShoreNewNetwork makes perfect sense.”
“The legacy media in New Jersey offers readers filtered and often slanted reports on what goes on in our community,” Stilton said. “For almost 10 years, we have offered our readers the news without the mainstream media spin.”
Read the rest of this entry » Posted: July 27th, 2018 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Monmouth County News, New Jersey, NJ Media, Ocean County | Tags: Media, Monmouth County News, MonmouthMonmouthMusings, New Jersey, Ocean County News, ShoreNewsNetwork | 3 Comments »
Congressmen Chris Smith and Tom MacArthur cut the ribbon for a new hanger at JB-MDL in 2015
The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by the House of Representatives today, provides for a 2.6% pay increase for all military personnel, the largest increase in nine years, and provides $10.2 million for projects at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst , Congressman Chris Smith announced this afternoon. Additionally, there will be no Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process through fiscal 2019, under the terms of the bill.
“It is critical that this legislation authorizes a pay raise and new equipment for the men and women serving in our nation’s armed forces,” Congressman Smith said. “For too long their needs have been ignored, and now is the time to ensure they have all the resources and equipment they require to get the job done.”
The $10.2 million for JB-MDL will fund infrastructure improvements needed in preparation for the highly-anticipated arrival of 15 KC-46A refueling tankers, which are expected to begin arriving in FY 2021.
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Posted: July 26th, 2018 | Author: admin | Filed under: Chris Smith, New Jersey, Ocean County | Tags: CD-4, Congressman Chris Smith, JB-MDL, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Monmouth County News, New Jersey, NJ 4, Ocean County News | Comments Off on House Defense Bill Will Boost Joint Base MDL, Congressman Smith announces
Andy Kim, the Democrat candidate running against Congressman Tom MacArthur in the third congressional district is recruiting volunteers for his campaign among the Spring Lake Heights Democrats. Spring Lake Heights in in the 4th congressional district where Josh Welle, address none of your business, won the nomination to lose to Congressman Chris Smith in November. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: July 6th, 2018 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2018 Elections, Congress, Monmouth County News, Ocean County | Tags: 2018 elections, Andy Kim, CD-3, CD-4, Chris Smith, Congressman Chris Smith, Congressman Tom MacArthur, Josh Welle, Monmouth County News, Ocean County News, Spring Lake Heights, Spring Lake Heights Democrats | 2 Comments »
Pt. Pleasant Beach officials; Councilman Andy Cortes, Mayor Stephen Reid, Council President Bob Santanello meet with Congressman Chris Smith and Ray Bogan, legal counsel for the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, Recreational Fishing Alliance, and United Boatmen of New Jersey, at the Manasquan Inlet. June 1, 1018
Quick action by Pt. Pleasant Beach Mayor Stephen Reid and Congressman Chris Smith will ensure that the Manasquan Inlet remains navigable for commercial and recreational marine traffic this summer.
Unexpected shoaling that threatens to block marine traffic has developed in the inlet since January when the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers performed their regularly scheduled survey. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: June 3rd, 2018 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Smith, Jersey Shore, Monmouth County News, New Jersey, Ocean County | Tags: Andy Cortes, Bob Santanello, Congressman Chris Smith, Fishing Industry, Jersey Shore, Jersey Shore Economy, Jersey Shore News, Manasquan Inlet, Marine Trades Association, Mayor Stephen Reid, Monmouth County News, New Jersey, Ocean County News, Pt Pleasant Beach, Recreational Fishing Alliance, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, United Boatmen, USACE | 1 Comment »
Mike DiMauro, Geri Sabasko, Rep. Smith, Autism Speaks CEO Angela Geiger, Rana Corandan, Shane Lilliston, Fay Painter
Congressman Chris Smith received the Congressional Leadership Award on Wednesday on Capitol Hill from the group Autism Speaks, a national advocacy group that promotes awareness of and research and solutions for autism spectrum disorder. Smith was awarded at the 2018 World Autism Month Champions Luncheon, capping off a month of significant activity on behalf of children with autism and their caregivers.
“I want to thank the leaders at Autism Speaks for their incredible work raising awareness on this invisible crisis,” said Smith, co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus, at the Hill Day event held during World Autism Month. The luncheon was attended by autism advocates from all over the U.S., many of who have children with autism. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: April 26th, 2018 | Author: admin | Filed under: Chris Smith, Congress | Tags: Autism, Autism Speaks, CD-4, Congressman Chris Smith, Monmouth County News, New Jersey, NJ 4, Ocean County News | 1 Comment »
Congressional Candidate’s Disclosure Raises More Questions
Congressional Candidate Josh Welle
Josh Welle, address unknown, the Democrat endorsed by the Monmouth and Ocean Democrats to run against Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th Congressional District, filed his Financial Disclosure Report with the Clerk of the House of Representatives on Sunday, March 11. MMM reported on Saturday March 10 that Welle was over four months late in filing the report, a violation of the Ethics in Government Act that could result in a fine up to $58,000.
Welle has not explained why he did not file the report as required in October of 2017. Nor is it clear that the report filed on Sunday brings him into compliance. Welle reached the $5000 fund raising threshold that triggered the requirement of the report within thirty days on September 29, 2017. He was then required to disclose his assets and sources of income of more than $5,000 for 2016 and 2017 within thirty days. The report filed yesterday indicated that it is for the year 2017 but also indicates that it covers the period of January 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018. The disclosures of income and assets seem to be for 2017 and YTD 2018. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: March 12th, 2018 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2018 Elections, Chris Smith, Monmouth County News, Monmouth Democrats, New Jersey | Tags: 2018 elections, CD-4, Congressman Chris Smith, Josh Welle, Joshua Welle, Monmouth County News, Monmouth Democrats, New Jersey, Ocean County News, Ocean Democrats | 2 Comments »